Mein elbowing Woodley (photo via Strikeforce / Showtime)

Strikeforce Prospect “Hungry” For Win in SFS Headliner

By Kelsey Mowatt

Coming off campaigns in 2010 and 2011 where he fought at least five times annually, welterweight prospect Jordan Mein wasn’t comfortable with the idea of a two fight schedule in 2012. After it became clear that his win over Tyler Stinson in July would mark the last time Mein would compete under the Strikeforce banner this year, the 23 year-old decided to approach ZUFFA about fighting elsewhere. It wasn’t a request that the MMA giant is accustomed to hearing.

“You’re right, it’s not something they do a lot,” Mein recently told Full Contact Fighter, while discussing his decision to pursue a fight outside of Strikeforce, where he has gone 2-1 to date. “I’m very fortunate that they did that for me. I couldn’t go on their November show because I had a wedding to go to, but that got cancelled anyways…and then we just asked ‘Jordan’s not going to be fighting anytime soon can he fight outside of your organization?’ They said ‘ya.’”

As a result of Strikeforce’s decision, Mein was cleared to take a November 23rd bout with UFC veteran Forrest Petz, which will headline the latest offering from The Score Fighting Series. While Mein gets to stay busy, collect another paycheck, and attempt to record another high profile win, one could argue that the rising fighter also has plenty to lose.

“I think staying active and not taking too much time off is something I want to keep doing,” said Mein, who has also defeated the likes of Joe Riggs, Josh Burkman, Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos and Marius Zaromskis since 2010.

“It’s very interesting because he’s trying to get back there (to the UFC) and that’s somewhere where I’m still trying to get,” Mein added, while discussing what’s riding on their upcoming bout. “So we’re both hungry. He knows what it’s like to be there and he wants that feeling back. I want to be there and fighting the best, so, I think in terms of hunger levels, and how much we both want to win this fight, I think we’re pretty even.”

A victorious Jordan Mein

Since Petz exited from the UFC in 2010, following a stoppage loss to Brian Foster, the 37 year-old veteran has recorded four straight wins, three of which have been stoppages.

“I’ve been watching a lot of his videos, and checking his record out, and he has a ton of experience against a lot of top level guys,” Mein (25-8) noted about Petz (25-9). “You can see in his fights how much he puts it on guys and how hard of a fight he is for a lot of people. So I think it will be a challenge for me fighting another vet like this.”

When FCF spoke with Petz recently, the Ohio fighter said addressing an error in how he was utilizing his hips to throw punches, has played a key part in the return of his stopping power.

“He throws really, really heavy hands,” said Mein. “He throws big overhand rights and he has a  solid left hook as well. Looks like he’s hard to put a way, so he’s a really tough dude. I think having really grueling fights, he has the nickname “The Meat Cleaver” for a reason, so overcoming all that would be really great for my career.”

Of course, if Mein secures a win over Petz this Friday, it will be interesting to see whether the Lethbridge fighter will land a spot on Strikeforce’s January card. Or, if the promotion will still be operating several months down the road, to even offer Mein another fight.

“As far as fighting for Strikeforce, it’s been a really good time, and I’ve had a few good fights there” Mein stated. “It would be even better if I could get on the January card for one last one, but, I don’t know. Ever since I signed with them there’s been rumor that they might fold, so, it’s always been in the back of my head that it might happen.”

Friday’s SFS will be hosted by Hamilton’s Place Theatre and will be broadcast live on The Score Network and AXS TV.